Mumbai: The BSE benchmark Sensex recovered by over 77 points in early trade on Thursday on the back of covering-up of short positions by participants in view of monthly expiry in the derivatives segment.

The 30-share index, which had shed 62.24 points on Wednesday, moved up by 77.13 points, or 0.41 percent, to 18,709.30.

All sectoral indices, led by auto and consumer durables, were trading in the positive zone with gains of up to 0.68 percent.

Similarly, the wide-based National Stock Exchange index Nifty was up 21.95 points, or 0.38 percent, to 5,685.40.

Brokers said covering-up of pending short positions by participants as Thursday is the last session of current month's expiry in the derivatives segment influenced the trading sentiments.